Bomb cluster



Sept 23, 1954 J. c. DARNALL, JR., ETAL 2,690,122

BOMB CLUSTER Filed Nov. 15, '1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l AMES G DAR/VALL JR.

, l I LRS EDS/YESS JR. n n m s, BY @@M Sept 28, 1954 J. c. DARNAU., JR., ETAL 2,690,122

BOMB CLUSTER Filed Nov. l5, 1 .945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INVENT ORS d/@xk ay @5am mronNEYs Sept- 28 19.54 J. c. DARNALL, JR., ETAL 2,690,122

BOMB CLUSTER Filed Nov. 15, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 //f ,Ama 54;,

INVDITORS JAMES c. DAR/VALL ./R. ms gw; 70s/V555 ./f?.

@Bam ATTORNEYS Sept 28 1954 J. c. DARNALL, JR., rs1-AL 2,690,122

. BOMB CLUSTER Filed Nov. 15, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvsNToRs JAMES C. DAR/VALL JR.

QwW-T ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STA BOMB CLUSTER James C. Darnall, Jr.,

Hyattsville, Md., and Lars M. Eidsness, Jr., Washington, D. C., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application November 15, 1945, Serial N o. 628,956

(Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952),

sec. 266) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to aerial bombs, and more particularly to an improved aerial bomb cluster.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved aerial bomb cluster having novel means for maintaining the bombs in assembled relationship and for releasing said bombs after the cluster has fallen through the air a predetermined distance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved aerial bomb cluster having novel means for dispersing the bombs in the cluster.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved aerial bomb cluster having novel means for maintaining the bombs in the cluster in alignment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bomb cluster which safely retains a group of bombs in a compact cluster so long as they are carried within and until shortly after they are released from an aircraft, and which thereafter automatically disperses the individual bombs to permit them to fall as separate units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bomb cluster of the type referred to which is easy to assemble, is safe and positive in operation, and which weighs only slightly more than the total weight of the bombs in the cluster.

These and other objects of the `invention will be obvious from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the loaded bomb cluster ready for hoisting into the aircraft;

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevational View of the cluster shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cluster frame assembly;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pistol assembly used with the bomb cluster;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan View of the rear end of the pistol assembly;

Fig. 8 is a rear elevational View of the pistol assembly;

Fig. 9 is a detailed perspective View of the turnbuckle assembly for adjusting tension on the band of the cluster; and

Fig. 10 is a detailed cross sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 1 showing a cross sectional view of the rear portion of the pistol assembly and the means for holding the ends of the bands engaged.

In the preferred embodiment shown inthe drawings, the cluster contains three bombs, although it is to be understood that greater or smaller numbers of bombs may be used with the cluster without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, three bombs of the conventional type are indicated by the numeral 20 and are provided with suitable nose fuzes 2l and tail fuzes 22 having arming vanes 23 and 24, respectively. Suspension lugs 25a are attached to the easing of each bomb. Suitable arming wires 24a prevent premature rotation of vanes 24 as is conventional practice.

The bombs are supported by a framework denoted generally by the numeral 28. A pair of flat inverted Y-shaped end frame members 29 and 29a are maintained in spaced relation by an upper channel-shaped spacing member 3l Welded to the upper ends of frame members 29 and 29a and by a lower spacing rod 32 comprising a rod which passes through the lower portions of the frame members 22 and 29a approximately at the point of intersection of the three arms of the Y. Rod 32 extends forwardly beyond the frame member 29 a short distance to support a forward arming vane detent 33 which comprises three radially extending arms 33a mounted on a tube 33h so that the arms extend into the paths of the forward arming vanes 23 to prevent unwanted rotation of the forward arming vanes 23 and subsequent accidental arming of the nose fuzes of the bombs prior to dispersal of the bombs from the bomb cluster. The vanes are positioned on rod 32 by means of Cotter pins passing through holes in tube 33h and matching holes in the forward end of rod 32.

A pair of bomb aligning disks 35 are mounted on the rod 32 between frame members 2S and 29a to engage the bomb suspension lugs 25a. of each of the bombs to insure against axial movement of the bombs while they are held in the cluster.

In order to provide means for hoisting and/or suspending the cluster in an aircraft bomb bay, a hoisting lug 38 is removably bolted to the channel-shaped spacing member 3l by screws passing through holes 38a in member 3l midway between the frame members 2s and 29a. For double suspension, holes 39 are provided near the upper ends of each of the frame members 29 and 29a.

In order to facilitate the use of the new bomb cluster with exterior bomb racks having sway braces such as those shown in U. S. Patents 1,528,942 and 2,069,996, bearing surfaces consisting of a pair of plates 4D and 4l are welded to the forward surface of frame member 29 and to the rear surface of the frame member 29a., respectively. Plates 40 and 0| extend a short distance transversely of spacer 3l and support a pair of longitudinal bracing members i2 welded to the two sway brace bearing members i0 and 4| on either side of spacer 3|.

Three pivot brackets 50 are welded to the inner surfaces of each of the frame members 29 and 29a adjacent to rod 32. Each bracket 50 pivotally supports a dispersing arm 5|. Coil springs 52 are provided on each of the arms 5| to urge the free ends of the arms 5| outwardly away from the rod 32 so as to throw the bombs 20 outwardly at the proper time, as will be discussed presently. Transverse members 53 are welded to the free ends of arms 5| and are curved to approximate the outer contour of the bombs 20. Members 53 increase the area over which the pressure from arms 5| is applied to the bombs when the bombs are dispersed.

As shown in Fig. 3, the arms 5| are maintained in their cocked positions during assembly of the bomb cluster by means of wires 50 which are passed around the arms 5|. A loop is provided at each end of the wires 51| so that the wires may be maintained in place by passing the inner ends of arming wires 55 through the two loops. The wires 55 pass through frame members 29 and 20a so as to be easily accessible and are maintained in place by means of resilient clips 50.

The bombs 20 are maintained in their clustered relationship by means of a band which actually comprises two separate resilient metal sections. The two band sections are joined at one end by means of a turnbuckle arrangement shown in detail in Fig. 9. Two band ends are provided with rod shaped nuts 62 which have central threaded openings into which are threaded the opposite ends of a screw 03. A nut Sri is fixed to the central portion of the screw E3 and the portions of the screw on either side of nut 611 are oppositely threaded so that rotation of the screw 53 by means of nut 012 brings the ends of the band sections together when turned in one direction and moves them apart when turned in the other direction.

The other two ends of the band sectors carry band clamps 00 which are provided with mating shoulders 01. The outer surface of the outer clamp is concave at 06a, while the inner surface i of the inner clamp is flat at 66h for a purpose which will be described presently. The clamps 66 are held together by means of a delay opening pistol shown in detail in Fig. which maintains the mating shoulders 61 of the clamps in engagement.

The firing pistol as shown in detail in Figs. 5 through 8 comprises a U-shaped band aligning bracket 10 having upstanding arms 1| and 12, both of which contain a circular opening. A ring pin housing 13 having an axial bore tapering at its rear end to form opening 13a. of diminished diameter is mounted in the opening in arm 1| and is welded thereto. The forward end of the member 13 is threaded for engagement with the interior threads in the rear end of a forward housing member 11i. The forward portion of member 14 is frusto-conical and has an axial bore which communicates with the hollow rear portion of the member by means of a smaller interiorly threaded opening 15. A shoulder 10I in the interior of the rear portion of housing 14 defines the limit of forward movement of a collar 18 which is held against the shoulder by the forward end of member 13 when it is screwed into the rear end of member 14. The collar 18 has an integral forwardly extending portion 18a of X-shaped cross section which supports a pair of pivoted arms as shown in Fig. 6. The rear ends of the arms 80 are hook shaped to engage a flange 8| on the forward end of a firing pin 82 which slides in the bore of member 13. The firing pin comprises a shaft having a hollow axial bore 83 in its forward end portion, a flange 84 at its rear end, and a tapering striker member 85 extending rearwardly from the flange 84 and adapted to project through opening 13a. A helical spring 81 surrounds the firing pin 82 and bears against the flange 84 and the collar 18 to urge the firing pin rearwardly. Flange 84 also serves to define the limit of rearward movement of the firing pin by its contact with the tapering rear end of the bore of housing 13.

The forward ends of the pivoted arms 80 are maintained separated by a threaded arming vane shaft which engages the threaded portion 15 in the member 13 and extends rearwardly between the arms 80 into the bore 83 of the firing pin 82. The rear end of the threaded shaft 90 is of conical configuration and the forward end of the shaft 90 is fixed to an arming vane 0|. By maintaining the forward ends of the arms 80 separated, the shaft 90 retains the hook shaped rear ends of the arms 80 in engagement with the flange 8| on the firing pin to hold the firing pin in its cocked position against the tension of spring 81. An arming wire 92 extends through the arming vane hub Bla to prevent premature rotation of the Vane. This arming wire is withdrawn with arming wires 24a when the bomb cluster is released from the aircraft.

A tubular latch member |00 extends through the opening in arm 12 of the pistol into engagement with an annular channel. |0| in the rear end of housing 13. A flange |02 on the rear end of the latch |00 defines the limit of forward movement of the latch. The rear end of latch |00 is interiorly threaded at |03 to receive a bolt |04 which is locked against rotation relative to the latch by means of a cotter pin |05 which engages slots |0511. in the rear end of the latch. The latch is maintained in its retaining position as shown in Fig. 5 by means of cotter pins |08 (Fig. 7) which extend through openings in flange |02 arm 12 as shown in Fig. 1.

The pistol shown in Fig. 5 holds the ends of the band sections together by the means shown in detail in Fig. 10. The two engaging clamps 66 attached to the ends of the bandv sections are placed adjacent each other withl the shoulders 61 in engagement and are then positioned against thev bottom of bracket 10 with the curved surface 68a facing outwardly. The latch |00 is then slid into place throughy the opening in arm 12 of the aligning member 101 and cotter pins |08 are inserted to hold` the detent member. |00 in its retaining position. The latch fits tightlyl into convex surface 66a; of the outer clamp to hold it against slipping out of the'bracket 10. With the bolt member |04 removed, a blank cartridge |06 may be inserted base first into the central opening in the latch |00 after which the bolt |04 is screwed into place tov hold the cartridge |06 with its base end against the member 1'3. The cotter pin |05 is then inserted to prevent the bolt |04 from unscrewing and the pistol is ready for use..

In operation, as the cluster falls throughy the air after the arming wire. 92 has beenA removed from the arming vane by release of they cluster fromv the aircraft the arming vane 9| and shaft 90 are rotated by the air stream vresulting in forward movement of the shaft Sli out of the pistol due to its threaded engagement with the reduced portion of the interior bore of forward housing 14. n to position the conical rear end portion of the shaft 9b between the two forward ends of the pivoted arms 8B, the hook shaped rear ends of the arms 80 are no longer held in their position of engagement with the iange 8l on the forward end of firing pin 82, whereupon the firing pin is released for movement under the iniiuence of coil spring 8l into firing engagement with the blank cartridge I B6. Detonation of the cartridge H36 forces the bolt ml rearwardly, and because of the threaded engagement of the bolt lllfl with the latch m8, the force is also exerted on the latch. The force of the explosion is suiiicient to overcome the cotter pins m8 so that the entire latch is blown rearwardly out of the aligning bracket 70. When this occurs, the two members 66 are no longer held in engagement, the resilient band 613 flies open, and springs 52 operate the pivoted arms 5I to throw the bombs outwardly away from the frame member 28.

The bomb cluster is assembled in the following manner. The frame 28 is placed on the deck in upright position as shown in Fig. 3 with the bomb dispersing arms 5l maintained in proximity with the rod 32 by means of wires 5d and 55. With the: frame in this position, bombs are placed in the two upper positions with their lugs a projecting between disks and are. temporarily secured in place by means of a length of wire (not shown). The band 6E with the turnbuckle arrangement extended to approximately full length is then placed on the deck with its outer surface down and a third bomb is placed on the band approximately 12 from either end of the band with the single suspension lug 25a of the bomb up. The' frame with the two bombs temporarily' secured to it is then lifted into place on the single bomb on the deck and the band et is wrapped around the loaded frame, the band clamps te are engaged and the pistol assembly is slipped over the clamps with the arming vane 9i forward. The latch iiiil is then slipped into place on the pistol and is secured by insertion of the cotter pins m8. The band is then tightened by rotation of nut Gil in the turnbuckle until the bombs are held securely in the frame, after which the wire which temporarily held the two upper bombs in place is removed. Wires are then removed to release wires 5s and permit arms 5l and 53 to move outwardly against the bombs in the cluster. The fuze arming vane detent 33 is then installed on the forward end of rod 32 with tubular portion 33h pointing rearwardly and is locked in place by means of cotter pins. It should be noted that the vane detent 33 may be placed on the rod 32 backwardly, that is, with the vanes 33ay adjacent the forward surface of frame member 29 and tubular portion 33h pointing forward when smaller bombs are used in the cluster. Arming wire 92 is then passed through the hub Sla of vanes 9| and the conventional resilient clip is placed on the free end of the wire to prevent it from accidentally slipping out of the hub. Arming wires 24a are also positioned in the arming vanes 24 and are held against accidental displacement by means of resilient clips 24h.

The cluster is next hoisted into the place of suspension from the aircraft. When a single suspension means is used, the cluster is hoisted by means of openings 39 in the upper ends of When the cluster has fallen far enough the arming wires 92 and 24a are retained with frame membersZS and 29a and is suspended by means" of lug' 38. When double suspension means are utilized, the single suspension lug 38 y isremoved and the cluster is hoisted to the bomb rack by inserting a hoisting pin or bolt (not `shown) through the forward hole of the two screw holes 38a in the spacer member 3|. The

cluster is then suspended by means of the two openings 39 which engage the bomb rack. If l()Y sway braces are used with the bomb suspension means in the case of exterior racks, the sway brace means are tightened against the members 1lb, iii and/or 42.

y65 inserted to insure against accidental unscrewing of bolt |64.

When the cluster is released from the aircraft the aircraft so' that the cluster falls without them. After the arming vane 9| of the pistol has rotated the required number of turns, the ring' pin 82 is released as explained above and cartridge i is fired to drive the latch Idil rearwardly out-of the aligning bracket 19. The resiliency ofthe band 5i? then disengages the band clamps and since the bombs are then no longer positively held on the frame 28, the springs 52 l actuate arms 5l `to throw the bomb 20 outwardly away from the frame 28.

*When it is desired to use bombs of a smaller diameter with the cluster, adapters (not shown) may be fastened to the ends of the two lower arms of the frame members to decrease the radius of curvature of the frame members where the bombs are positioned.

rfhe bomb cluster described constitutes an emcient method of dispersing a plurality of bombs suspended from a single bomb rack and adds a minimum of weight to the total weight of the bombs carried. The cluster is easy to load, requires a minimum of maintenance, and is safe and eflicient in its operation.

The above described embodiment of the invention is a preferred embodiment thereof, and it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to other embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

'I'he invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

We claim:

1. In a multiple bomb cluster, a frame adapted to position a plurality of bombs in parallel cluster formation, a band adapted to encircle said bombs having interlocking ends and serving to secure against dispersal of bombs in said cluster, means carried by said band for releasing said bombs,

, comprising an aligning member for receiving said interlocking band ends, a latch member carried by said aligning member and normally locked thereto, said latch member cooperable with said aligning member normally to maintain said band ends in interlocking engagement, and means secured to said aligning member for explosively unlocking said latch member from said alignment member, whereby said band ends are free to disengage to release said bombs for dispersal.

2. tn a multiple bomb cluster, a frame -:ada-p.ted to position a plurality of bombs in parallelcluster formation, a lband vadapted to .encircle said bombs having vinterlocking rends and .serving to secure against dispersal of bombs in said cluster, means carried by said band for releasing said bombs, vcomprising :an aligning member for receiving said interlocking band ends, .a detent member carried by said aligning .member and normally locked thereto, said detent cooperable with :said aligning member normally to maintainsaid ban-d ends in interlockingengagement, Vexplosive means within said detent member for explosively .removing isaid vdetent vmember from its locked position, .and air motion responsive means :secured to said valigning member for detonating said explosive, whereby said band ends are free kto Adisengage to release said bombs -for dispersal.

3. Ina multiple bomb cluster, a frame .adapted to position a plurality of bombs n-parallel cluster -formation, a band adapted to encircle .saidbombs having interlocking ends and ser-ving to -secure against dispersal of bombs in said cluster, means carried by said :band for releasing said bombs, .comprising an aligning member positioned at the point of engagement of -said fband ends, a tubular detent member carried by said aligning member and removably 'connected thereto,

.said detent being positioned for vcooperation with .said 'aligning member normally to maintain said :band ends in interlocking engagement, .an lex- :plosive charge within said .detent member ior explosively disconnecting said detent from said aligning member thereby removing said -detent member from its detent position, vmeans -for removing and replacing said explosive charge through one r.end of said detent member, 4and -air motion .responsive means fixed to said aligning member and operable 'to detonate said explosive, whereby said band ends are free .to disengage to permit dispersal of said bombs.

4. In a cluster of elongate bombs having a .suspension lug secured to the exterior of -each bomb and a frame member for lpositioning :the bombs in the-cluster with their longitudinal axes radially offset from ,the longitudinal axis of .sa-id .frame member, means for securing .against axial movement of the ,bombs relative to the frame member, comprising a rod .carried by .land cyaxial with the vframe member, and a pair :0f spaced angularly -faced detent disks :mounted zon said rod and so positioned .that .said angular .faces engage said bomb suspension .lugszto facili- `tate positioning of the bombs in the fra-me :and

to prevent `unwanted axial ymovement bombs.

.5.. multiple bomb cluster release mechanism normally serving to secure .the bombs against dispersal comp'rising; a bomb .cluster encircling band, overlapping interlocking ends on said band, .an aligning member for receiving said band ends, a removable latchzsecured to ,said aligning member and normally retaining said ends .in overlapping interlocking position 'within said aligning member, explosive latch removing means se- .cured to said aligning member, and means operated by flight of the bomb cluster through the 4air fto explode .said latch 4removing means and remove ,said latch thereby freeing the band ends from `the .aligning member to permit their disengagement rrominterlockng engagement whereby the bombs .are .released for dispersal.

-6 In ,a multiple bomb .cluster a release mechan-ism means to .secure .the .bombs against dispersal comprising; .a 4band normally encircling the bombs, overlapping interlocking ends on said band, .clamping ,means ynormally retaining said ends in 4overlapping .interlocking engagement, means responsivefto the -iiight of the bomb cluster @through I'the air :for ldisengagifng said clamping :means whereby lsaid band ends 'are freleasedthereof .said

'by reeingrthe bombs 'i or dispersal.

.7. In .azmultiple bomb cluster a release mechanism .serving to secure against dispersal ofthe ibombs comprising; Aan air motion actuatable pistol, :a removable cant-ridge receiving chamber for said .pistoLa :band normally encircling the bombs, .overlapping interlocking ends :on `said band, an .alignment Amember :secured :to .said pistol, said alignment Vmember and .said chamber forming a .clamp v'to :normally retain said bend ends in overlapping interlocking engagement therebetween, vsaid .clamp 'being' .released zby operation of said :pistol whereby said @band .ends .are released to free thebombs.

References .Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number `Name Date 1,346,177 Chanard July 13, 1920 2,071,594 .'lrimbach Feb. 23, 1937 2,161,082 Ovtschinnikoif June 6, 1939 2,345,494 YLeland Apr. 1l, 1944 .2,365,302 ,Malone 4et al. Dec. 5, 1944 2,379,364 LelandV --.June 26, 1945 .2,434,162 Imber Jan. 6, 1948 

